penbarker-blog

[penbarker-blog]

Didn't already have a sincere appreciation for clean clothes, etc. after B&B?? Or maybe you're just "re-learning" after your time away from nature ;)

My day: Attacked by my flying nocturnal owl monkey as it flew across the room and landed on my face “playfully” biting and scratching me. Twice. So tired and frightened by the attack when I bent down to pick something up I slammed my cheek/eye into a chair and now have a bruise. Picked up a...

[penbarker-blog]

Something about this trip that I don’t want to forget is how much I appreciated small things throughout the day, that in normal life I never thought twice about

All of Montana smelled delightfully like a sauna; the sweet hot wood Curling up on my 1-inch mattress at the end of the night (I...

[penbarker-blog]

My summer with a non-profit organization, Bike and Build. Thirty young individuals dedicated 70 days towards biking across the country to raise money for and…

[penbarker-blog]

Nice work, Healy, M.

First sketch in over a year. Time to exercise the ol’ lazy hand. Quick, quick study.

[penbarker-blog]

My fellow rider and friend's pics from the wheel dip that followed our frenzied group plunge into the Pacific. Just as we dipped our rear wheels into the Atlantic, over two months ago, to signify the beginning of a journey, so we closed our journey by finally dipping our front wheels into the Pacific.

8-25 Made it to the beach! I biked every single mile from the Atlantic to the Pacific. It was an amazing and emotional day. Unfortunately this post is short because Canadian data is very expensive. I’m off to Vancouver Island with my Mom but more pictures and reflections to come. What a journey!

[penbarker-blog]

Our point of entry at Sunset Beach, with the bridge to Granville Island in the background. Turns out, the sand just to my right, where we dove in, was studded with razor-sharp oyster shells, and although ecstasy and delight hid us from pain as we entered, our feet were sliced and diced. Nothing a little Neosporin couldn't fix over the next few days!

[penbarker-blog]

What fantastic leadership. Leader Dean "Rocky" Rockwell doubles as a Baywatch lifeguard, and I his fortunate rescuee.

[penbarker-blog]

"Where's that damn racket coming from??" Kidding--it was awesome. Just not at that very moment, after everyone had just woken up. The expressions get that sentiment across quite well. One of our hosts in Surrey, BC decided that because it was our last day on the bike before hitting the Pacific, we deserved a proper bagpipes send off. He hailed each rider individually as we rolled out for the last time, that morning.

[penbarker-blog]

Through the city on a series of extremely confusing bike paths aaaannnnddd...the marina! Hello, Pacific! Now for one final group ride around the very edge of the famed Stanley Park--park on one side, ocean on the other. Sunset beach awaits!

[penbarker-blog]

The bridge to Vancouver is closed for repairs as we try to cross, so...I guess this means thirty bikers (bikes included) on a monorail.

[penbarker-blog]

The kid makes it!

[penbarker-blog]

This is how a gaggle of bikers prepare for a border crossing.

[penbarker-blog]

Just hangin' out at the duty-free beside the US-Canadian border, waiting on everyone to arrive so we could cross as a group (looks more legitimate, that way). Note that at this point, there is absolutely nowhere we won't sit, and similarly, very few things we won't eat. Germophobes thinking of applying to go on a B&B trip, I suggest you reconsider.

[penbarker-blog]

Geography has made us neighbors. History has made us friends. Economics has made us partners. And necessity has made us allies. Those whom nature hath so joined together, let no man put asunder. What unites us is far greater than what divides us.

JFK ~1961. Address to Canadian Parliament.

[penbarker-blog]

Moo.

[penbarker-blog]

Not there yet, but technically... This is part of Puget Sound. So, I've pretty much made it to the Pacific! Now on to Vancouver and the ocean to finish this thing!